NT Waterwatch Kit - Part 1, The Water Cycle and Water Properties (2003)

The aim of this section is to explore our environment through land divisions called catchments and to consider why it is appropriate to do so. Water is the primary determinant of catchment boundaries.

The second part of the section aims to introduce the basics about water and its capabilities within an environmental context. The activities are designed to be participatory and/or may involve demonstration activities to capture the curiosity of students.

A basic understanding of the water cycle and the properties of water is critical when working towards protection and sustainable utilisation of water.

By appreciating the water cycle it becomes easier for students to understand the complex ways in which various land uses can affect our catchments.

Similarly the concepts learnt about the properties of water will form a good grounding for understandings needed in later sections. For example in order to understand how water can get polluted you need to understand that water has the potential to dissolve things and hold them in suspension, similarly it helps to understand how the kinetic energy of flowing water has the power to erode landforms.